News and notes from each week of NASCAR racing using a Las Vegas oddsmaking perspective

Tuesday, April 2, 2013

Mark Martin to Run No. 11 JGR Car at Martinsville

A day after Joe Gibbs Racing announced that Mark Martin would replace Denny Hamlin while he recovered from a back injury, Michael Waltrip Racing announced late Friday that Martin will return to that team in two weeks.

Joe Gibbs Racing then announced that Brian Vickers will take over Hamlin's No. 11 car beginning with the race at Texas Motor Speedway in two weeks.

Hamlin suffered a fractured vertebra in his lower back and is expected to miss at least five races.

JGR announced Thursday that Martin would fill in for Hamlin, who was injured in a crash last week at Auto Club Speedway, and lauded Martin’s credentials while saying it hoped that Martin could win and contend while Hamlin is out.